Organizing the work of instructional improvement around a process that has specific, manageable steps helps educators build confidence and skill in using data. A process that includes eight distinct steps can take school leaders to use their assessment data effectively, and organized these steps into three phases: Prepare, Inquire, and Act. The "Data Wise" Improvement Process shown in this article illustrates the cyclical nature of this work. Initially, schools "prepare" for the work by establishing a foundation for learning from student assessment results. Schools then "inquire"--look for patterns in the data that indicate shortcomings in teaching and learning--and subsequently "act" on what they learn by designing and implementing instructional improvements. Schools can then cycle back through inquiry and further action in a process of ongoing improvement. In this article, the authors outline the steps in what can be both a messy and ultimately satisfying undertaking. These steps are: (1) Organizing for Collaborative Work; (2) Building Assessment Literacy; (3) Preparing a Data Overview; (4) Digging into Student Data; (5) Examining Instruction; (6) Developing an Action Plan; (7) Planning to Assess Progress; and (8) Acting and Assessing. (Contains 4 resources.)